Doffing mechanism

ABSTRACT

Mechanism for doffing large packages of roving from a mandrel of a winder is provided. The mechanism includes an upright stand mounted on a base which, in turn, is supported on wheels. A plate is slidably supported for vertical movement on the stand and is moved in a vertical direction by a fluid-operated ram, the piston rod of which is connected to the plate through a cable. A first elongate arm is pivotally mounted on the plate for pivotal movement in a vertical plane. A transverse arm extends outwardly from an end of the first arm and an elongate supporting member is connected to the transverse arm and located generally parallel to the first arm. The elongate supporting member has guide means at an end to enable the elongate member to be aligned with the mandrel to receive a roving package and a sleeve on which it is wound which are slid off the mandrel onto the elongate member. The base also has means cooperating with means on the floor adjacent the winder for positioning the overall mechanism relative to the mandrel. The elongate supporting member has resilient bands forming annular chambers around the member which are inflated to engage and hold the roving package. With the package held on the elongate supporting member, the mechanism is moved to a location spaced from the winder with the package over a pallet. The supporting member is then pivoted to a vertical position and lowered to place the package on the pallet. Air is then exhausted from the resilient bands and the elongate supporting member raised to separate it from the package.

United States Patent [191 Stotler et al.

[ May 6,1975

[ DOFFING MECHANISM [75] Inventors: David V. Stotler; Robert J. Gelin,

both of Newark, Ohio; John W. Daugherty, Plymouth, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, Toledo, Ohio 22 Filed: Mar. 23, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 344,306

[52] US. 214/1 D; 214/652; 294/93 [51] Int. Cl. B666 1/54 [58] Field of Search 214/651, 652, l D;

294/67 A, 67 AA, 67 AB, 63 A, 93

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,614 1/1951 Syracusa 214/652 2,74l,38l 4/1956 Bezien 214/650 R X 2,984,513 5/1961 Nearman 294/67 AA 3,404,794 10/1968 Wilson 21411 D X 3,729,102 4/1973 Shumaker.... 214/1 BB 3,734,304 5/1973 Cabaniss 214/1 D 3,737,050 6/1973 Leeuwestein..................... 214/1 BD FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,517,570 2/1968 France........................... 294/671 A [57] ABSTRACT Mechanism for doffing large packages of roving from a mandrel of a winder is provided. The mechanism includes an upright stand mounted on a base which, in turn, is supported on wheels. A plate is slidably supported for vertical movement on the stand and is moved in a vertical direction by a fluid-operated ram, the piston rod of which is connected to the plate through a cable. A first elongate arm is pivotally mounted on the plate for pivotal movement in a vertical plane. A transverse arm extends outwardly from an end of the first arm and an elongate supporting member is connected to the transverse arm and located generally parallel to the first arm. The elongate supporting member has guide means at an end to enable the elongate member to be aligned with the mandrel to receive a roving package and a sleeve on which it is wound which are slid off the mandrel onto the elongate member. The base also has means cooperating with means on the floor adjacent the winder for positioning the overall mechanism relative to the mandrel. The elongate supporting member has resilient bands forming annular chambers around the member which are inflated to engage and hold the roving package. With the package held on the elongate supporting member, the mechanism is moved to a location spaced from the winder with the package over a pallet. The supporting member is then pivoted to a vertical position and lowered to place the package on the pallet. Air is then exhausted from the resilient bands and the elongate supporting member raised to separate it from the package.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DOFFING MECHANISM This invention relates to doffing mechanism for handling large packages of wound fibers.

The production of large packages of fibers, which packages weigh in the order of 300 500 pounds, is more and more common. Such packages, by way of example, are made of glass fiber roving wound from a plurality of strand packages onto a sleeve. These large packages have a number of advantages over the usual small packages which weight but a fraction as much. In particular, the extensive continuous lengths of roving on the packages enable the customer to tie the ends together much less frequently. This results in a substantial labor savings and can also result in a high quality product made from the roving because of the absence of knots. The customer also is required to handle the packages less often than heretofore. Shipping and storage space are both substantially reduced since one large package consumes considerably less space than a plurality of small packages equalling the weight of the single large one. Inventory and other handling problems are also reduced. The large package also substantially eliminates any pilfering possibility which might tend to exist with the usual small packages.

Once the large packages are removed from the mandrel on which they are wound, handling is relatively simple since typically four of the large packages can be carried on a pallet, with the pallet easily manipulated by a fork lift truck or the like. However, doffing or removing the large packages from the mandrel and transporting them to the pallet has presented a problem. l-leretofore, various hoist arrangements have been used to remove the large packages, place them on a cart, and subsequently remove them from the cart onto the pallet. Such arrangements heretofore employed, have usually required more than one man, have been slow and time consuming, and have also required engagement of the outer, generally cylindrical surface of the package, which can cause damage to the roving.

The present invention relates to doffing mechanism for removing a package from a mandrel of a winder, transporting the package to a pallet, and depositing the package thereon. The apparatus includes a verticallyextending stand mounted on a base which, in turn, is supported on suitable wheels or casters. The stand includes vertical guide rails on which is mounted a plate. The stand also has a fluid-operated ram having a cable connected to the plate to move the plate vertically with respect to the rails when the ram is operated. A housing is associated with the stand and encloses a small hydraulic pump and a battery for operating same.

A first elongate arm has a central portion pivotally supported by the plate and a transverse arm is affixed to an end of the first arm and extends outwardly therefrom. An elongate supporting member has an end affixed to an outer end of the transverse arm with the elongate supporting member being positioned generally parallel to the first arm, the three elements forming a U-shaped configuration. The free end of the elongate supporting member has guide means engageable with an end of the mandrel on which the large package of roving is wound, to facilitate alignment of the elongate supporting member with the mandrel. The base of the mechanism further includes means cooperating with positioning means on the floor to position the mechanism in a receiving location relative to the mandrel.

The elongate supporting member has two spaced, resilient bands thereon forming annular fluid chambers. Passage means communicate with these chambers and extend through the elongate supporting member to a valve arrangement by means of which fluid can be supplied to the bands to expand the annular chambers and engage a sleeve or tube on which the roving package is wound. A fluid-opeated, package-engaging member is also employed to engage the end of the package opposite the free end of the mandrel, thereby to slide the package off the mandrel and onto the supporting member. At this time, the resilient bands are expanded to firmly engage the package.

The overall mechanism is then rolled on the wheels of the base to the pallet and the package positioned thereover. The elongate supporting member is pivoted to a vertical position and lowered with the end of the package engaging the pallet, and the air being exhausted from the resilient bands, enabling them to contract and separate from the package, or specifically from the sleeve on which it is wound. The elongate supporting member is then raised until the free end of the member is clear of the package. At this time, the member can be pivoted back to the horizontal position and the mechanism moved into position adjacent the mandrel or another mandrel to receive another wound package.

it is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide doffing mechanism for removing large fibrous packages from mandrels.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism for handling a large package, which mechanism engages the package through a central opening therein by means of resilient bands expandable by fluid pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide doffing mechanism for removing large fiber packages from a mandrel and for transporting them to a pallet by only one man.

A further object of the invention is to provide doffing mechamism for removing large packages from a mandrel by engaging the interior of a sleeve on which the package is wound, and transporting the package thereby.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for doffing a roving package from a mandrel and transporting it to a receiving platform more quickly and easily.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end view in elevation of a winder and a doffing machanism according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to F l0. 3 of the doffing mechanism, but showing a portion of the mechanism in an unloading position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a modified portion of the doffing mechanism;

H6. 6 is an enlarged, detailed view in section, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a pivotal connection of the doffing mechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a suitable winder with which the invention can be employed is indicated at 10, and basically includes a housing 12, an expandable mandrel 14, and a level wind device 16. The housing 12 contains suitable drive and control mechanism for operating the mandrel l4 and the level wind device 16. The mandrel 14 has three expandable segments 18, the positions of which are controlled by an end knob 20 which can be turned to move the segments 18 in and out. The level wind device 16 includes an eye 22 for directing roving back and forth along the mandrel 14, as is well known in the art.

A large cylindrical package of roving, indicated by dotted lines 24, is wound on the mandrel l4 and specifically on a sleeve or tube, preferably of flexible material, positioned over the mandrel 14. The roving is basically formed in the usual manner, from a plurality of smaller packages of strand mounted on a creel, with the strands from the packages collected and twisted into the roving which is then wound onto the mandrel 14. In this instance, a large package in the order of 300- 500 pounds is produced, this taking several hours to complete. The completed package is then removed, after the mandel segments 18 are collapsed by rotation of the knob 20, and the package is transferred to a pallet on which it is shipped, typically in groups of four, to a customer. Because of the extensive length of the roving in the package, the customer has relatively few knots to tie to connect roving ends. This substantially reduces labor time and also improves the quality of the products which inherently will have fewer knots therein. Since the single large package requires less space than a large number of small ones of equal total weight, shipping space and storage space are correspondingly reduced, with inventory and other handling problems being correspondingly simplified. Any problem with pilferage of small packages also is eliminated.

In order to remove the large package from the mandrel 14 and transport it to a pallet or other suitable loading platform, relatively cumbersome and slow equipment was heretofore employed. Thus, in a typical doffing operation, a hoist was used to remove the package from the mandrel and lower it to a cart from which it could be taken to the pallet. Again, the package had to be lifted from the cart onto the platform. This usually required two men and was time consuming. Further, the outer surface of the package 24 was engaged by the hoist and this tended to damage the roving at the outer surface of the package.

The present invention provides doffing mechanism indicated at 26 (FIGS. 1-3) which overcomes the above problems and has other advantages. The doffing mechanism 26 can be handled readily by one man and the package can be doffed and taken to the pallet quickly and easily. Further, the outer surface of the package 24 is not engaged by the doffing mechanism so that possible damage to the roving is correspondingly reduced.

The mechanism 26 includes a base 28 formed by a tubular member comprising two legs 30 and 32 connected by a rear transverse leg 34. The base 28 is mounted on front and rear wheels 36 to move the doffing mechanism 26 into position relative to the winder l and to transport the doffed package. A V-shaped channel 38 is affixed to the floor in a predetermined position near the winder and receives an end of the base leg 32 to place it in a predetermined position. Diagonally opposite the forward end of the leg 32 is a drop pin 40 located in a tubular bracket 42 affixed to the base 28. The lower end of the pin 40 is received in a recess 44 formed in the floor in a predetermined position. The channel 38 and the recess 44, in cooperation with the pin 40, thereby fully locate the base 28 to the doffing mechanism 26 in a predetermined position relative of the winder, in order to enable the doffing mechanism 26 to more readily receive the package 24 from the winder.

An, upright stand indicated at 46 is mounted on base cross members 48 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and basically includes a channel-shaped member 50 having a rear wall 52 and side walls 54 and 56 terminating in outwardly extending flanges 58 and 60 (see also FIG. 5). The flanges 58 and 60 form guide rails for a front plate 62 having L-shaped flanges 64 and 66 extending around the flanges 58 and 60 so that the plate 62 is guided for vertical movement on the flanges 58 and 60. A circular mounting plate 68 (see also FIG. 7) is centrally affixed to the front plate 62. To move the plates 62 and 68 vertically, a flexible member or cable 70 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is affixed to an upper edge of the front plate 62 and extends to an anchor 72 mounted on the back wall of the member 50. A fluid-operated ram 74 is located within the channel formed by the member 50 and has a piston rod 76 extending upwardly and terminating in a pulley 78 which engages an intermediate portion of the cable 70. The plates 62 and 68 are raised when the piston rod 76 is extended and lowered by means of gravity when the piston rod 76 is retracted. A reservoir, a pump, and a battery can be located in a housing 77 behind the channel member 50 to operate the cylinder 74.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, a stop assembly 80 is mounted on the side wall 56 of the member 50 adjacent the flange 60. The stop assembly 80 includes a supporting plate 82 which is movable with the front plate 62 and slidably carries a stop pin 84 by means of ears 86. A spring 88 urges the stop pin 84 toward the channel side wall 56. In its normal forward position toward the wall, the pin 84 can engage a triangular stop member 90 on the side wall 56 to automatically position the plates 62 and 68 in a desired vertical position relative to the mandrel 14. When the pin 84 is retracted by a lever 92, the plates 62 and 68 can be lowered.

A package engaging and supporting unit indicated at 94 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is mounted on the circular plate 68. The unit 94 includes a circular plate 96 which is pivotally connected to the circular plate 68 by a pin or axle 98. A first elongate arm 100 is affixed to the circular plate 96 through an elongate bracket 102 and an intermediate plate 104. A transverse arm 106 is structurally integral with an end of the first arm I00 extending outwardly from the channel member 50 and terminating in an elongate supporting member 108. The member 108 is substantially parallel to the first arm 100 and is spaced therefrom a distance exceeding the radius of the package 24. With this U-shaped configuration formed by the arms 100 and 106 along with the supporting member 108, the space required beyond the end of the mandrel 14 to unload the package is only slightly in excess of the length of the package itself, this arrangement being most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the elongate supporting member 108 has a central core or supporting arm 110 which is structurally integral with the transverse arm 106. The supporting member includes a rear stop flange 112 and two cylindrical sections 114 mounted on the supporting arm 110 by annular flange members 116. Two resilient bands 118 also extend around the arm 110 and are held in position by the annular flange members 116. When not expanded, the bands 118 are of a diameter equal to the sections 114, and being smaller than the diameter of the sleeve on which the package is wound. However, when fluid such as air is supplied to annular resilient chambers 120 formed by the bands 118, they expand toward the dotted line position, as shown in FIG. 6, to firmly engage the inner surface of the sleeve. The air can be supplied through one of the flanges 116 into the side of the band 118 by a line 122 which extends through the arms 110, 106, and 100 back to a point near the channel member 50 where a valve and a suitable fitting (not shown) can be located through which air under pressure can be supplied.

At the outer end of the elongate supporting member 108 is a guide member 124 which includes a guide wall 126 extending outwardly therefrom. The guide wall 126 is preferably semi-cylindrical, being open on one side. This guide wall is of a size to be received around the end knob of the mandrel 14 thereby to facilitate alignment of the elongate supporting member 108 with the mandrel 14. The thickness of the wall is about equal to the difference in diameters of the segments 18, when slightly retracted, and the knob 20. The stop assembly 80 is located in a manner to position the guide member 123 at the same height as the knob 20 when the stop pin 84 engages the stop member 90. The supporting member 108 can then be moved into alignment with the mandrel 14 by moving the mechanism 26 in from the side with the leg 32 aligned with the channel 38.

When the mandrel and the elongate supporting member are in alignment, the package 24 can be slid off the mandrel 14 and onto the elongate supporting member 108 by a package sliding device 128 (FIG. l-3) located on the winder housing 12. This device includes a fluidoperated cylinder 130 having a piston rod 132 terminating in an ejection plate 134. The cylinder 130 is affixed to the top of the housing 12 with the plate 134 located adjacent the front of the housing, between it and the package being formed. When the package is complete and fluid is supplied under pressure to the blind end of the cylinder 130, the plate 134 engages the end of the package and slides it onto the elongate supporting member 108.

Referring to FIG. 5, the package sliding device 128 can be mounted on the first arm 100 of the unit 94, if desired. The plate 134, in this instance, is pivotally mounted so it can clear the package 24 on the mandrel 14 when the piston rod 132 is extended, with the plate then being swung to a position behind the rear of the package 24. Fluid is then supplied to the rod end of the cylinder to retract the piston rod and cause the plate 134 to slide the package onto the elongate supporting member 108.

When the package 24 is moved onto the supporting member 108, air is supplied to the chambers 120 to cause the bands 118 to expand and enable them to engage the inner surface of the sleeve on which the package is wound. At this time, the drop pin 40 can be raised from the recess 24 and the doffing mechanism 26 wheeled to a platform or pallet 136 (FIG. 4) with the legs 30 and 32 of the base 28 extending under the pallet so that the elongate supporting arm 108 and the package 24 are positioned thereabove. At this time, the elongate supporting member 108 is pivoted to a vertical position and the stop pin 84 is then retracted to enable the package to be lowered by gravity toward the pallet 136.

While a number of suitable ways can be employed to pivot the elongate supporting member 108, as shown, the stationary, circular plate 68 has an arm 138 extending upwardly therefrom and the pivotable circular plate 96 has a similar arm 140 extending therefrom. The arm 138 pivotally carries a cylindrical member 142 and the arm 140 pivotally carries an internally-threaded cylindrical member 144. The latter engages a threaded portion 146 of a crank 148 having a crank arm 150 extending outwardly from a rear end thereof, and the member 140 rotatably receives an intermediate portion of the crank arm and is prevented from longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

When the crank is turned, the arm 140 moves outwardly from the arm 138 to the final position shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the member 108 is in vertical position with the package likewise being vertical. When the supporting member 108 is lowered to the point that the guide end member 124 on the package end contacts the surface of the pallet 136, the air to the resilient bands 118 can be released to enable the chambers to retract to the normal position and release the package sleeve. The plate 62 is subsequently raised by operation of the hydraulic ram 74 until the lower end of the supporting member 108 is free of the package 24 resting in its on-end position. The supporting member 108 can then be moved back to its horizontal position and the mechanism wheeled to another winder to receive another package or back to the same winder, as the case may be.

it will be seen that the doffing mechanism according to the invention has a number of advantages. Only one man is required to remove the package from the mandrel 14, transfer it to a loading platform or pallet, and unload the package thereon. The operation is relatively simple and can be done quickly. Further, the outer cylinder surface of the package is never engaged by the doffing mechanism. The doffing mechanism due to the U-shaped configuration of the supporting member and the arms, also requires little space beyond the length of the package for doffing.

Various modifications of the above-described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, if they are within the spirit and the tenor of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling a cylindrical package of material on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, supporting means, connecting means connected to said supporting means and to said supporting member for supporting said supporting member by said supporting means, said supporting means being at one side of said supporting member and spaced therefrom by said connecting means a distance exceeding the radius of the package, whereby the package can be removed from the mandrel onto said supporting member in a space not substantially exceeding the length of the package, means for movably supporting said supporting means to enable the package to be transferred to a position spaced from the mandrel, and a guide wall on the end of said supporting member engageable with an outer surface portion of the mandrel for aligning said member with an end of the mandrel.

2. Apparatus for handling a package of fibers wound on a sleeve or the like on a mandrel, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, means on said supporting member extendible outwardly to engage the inside of the fiber package when moved from the mandrel onto said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in the position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said member to a position spaced from the mandrel, means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position to enable the package to be removed from an end of said supporting member, said means for supporting said supporting member comprising an arm extending transversely from an end of said supporting member, vertically-extending means connected to said arm, and wheel means supporting said vertically-extending means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized further by said means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position comprises pivot means positioned between said vertically-extending means and said arm.

4. Apparatus for handling a package of fibers wound on a sleeve or the like on a mandrel, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, means on said supporting member extendible outwardly to engage the inside of the fiber package when moved from the mandrel onto said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in the position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said member to a position spaced from the mandrel, means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position to enable the package to be removed from an end of said supporting member, and means positionable near the mandrel for engaging an end of the package opposite the free end of the mandrel for moving the package off the mandrel onto said supporting member.

5. Apparatus for handling a heavy object having a central opening therethrough and positioned on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, resilient means on said supporting member extending therearound and forming an annular fluid chamber, means for supplying fluid to said chamber through said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in a position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said supporting member to a position spaced from said mandrel, means on an end of said supporting member for aligning said supporting member with the mandrel, positioning means adapted to be positioned in a fixed position relative to said mandrel and engageable with said supporting means for aligning said aligning means transversely with an end of the mandrel, and means for pivotally moving said supporting member between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position with said aligning means extending downwardly.

6. Apparatus for handling a heavy object having a central opening therethrough and positioned on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, resilient means on said supporting member extending therearound and forming an annular fluid chamber, means for supplying fluid to said chamber through said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in a postion in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said supporting member to a position spaced from said mandrel, means on an end of said supporting member for aligning said supporting member with the mandrel, positioning means adapted to be positioned in a fixed position relative to said mandrel and engageable with said supporting means for aligning said aligning means transversely with an end of the mandrel, means for raising and lowering said supporting member, and releasable stop means for stopping said supporting member and said aligning means adapted to be positioned at the same height as the mandrel.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by second resilient means located around said supporting member and spaced from said first resilient means, said second resilient means also forming an annular fluid chamber.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by means positionable near the mandrel for engaging an end of the object opposite a free end of the mandrel for pushing the object off the mandrel onto said supporting member. 

1. Apparatus for handling a cylindrical package of material on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, supporting means, connecting means connected to said supporting means and to said supporting member for supporting said supporting member by said supporting means, said supporting means being at one side of said supporting member and spaced therefrom by said connecting means a distance exceeding the radius of the package, whereby the package can be removed from the mandrel onto said supporting member in a space not substantially exceeding the length of the package, means for movably supporting said supporting means to enable the package to be transferred to a position spaced from the mandrel, and a guide wall on the end of said supporting member engageable with an outer surface portion of the mandrel for aligning said member with an end of the mandrel.
 2. Apparatus for handling a package of fibers wound on a sleeve or the like on a mandrel, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, means on said supporting member extendible outwardly to engage the inside of the fiber package when moved from the mandrel onto said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in the position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said member to a position spaced from the mandrel, means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position to enable the package to be removed from an end of said supporting member, said means for supporting said supporting member comprising an arm extending transversely from aN end of said supporting member, vertically-extending means connected to said arm, and wheel means supporting said vertically-extending means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized further by said means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position comprises pivot means positioned between said vertically-extending means and said arm.
 4. Apparatus for handling a package of fibers wound on a sleeve or the like on a mandrel, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, means on said supporting member extendible outwardly to engage the inside of the fiber package when moved from the mandrel onto said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in the position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said member to a position spaced from the mandrel, means for moving said supporting member to a generally upright position to enable the package to be removed from an end of said supporting member, and means positionable near the mandrel for engaging an end of the package opposite the free end of the mandrel for moving the package off the mandrel onto said supporting member.
 5. Apparatus for handling a heavy object having a central opening therethrough and positioned on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, resilient means on said supporting member extending therearound and forming an annular fluid chamber, means for supplying fluid to said chamber through said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in a position in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said supporting member to a position spaced from said mandrel, means on an end of said supporting member for aligning said supporting member with the mandrel, positioning means adapted to be positioned in a fixed position relative to said mandrel and engageable with said supporting means for aligning said aligning means transversely with an end of the mandrel, and means for pivotally moving said supporting member between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position with said aligning means extending downwardly.
 6. Apparatus for handling a heavy object having a central opening therethrough and positioned on a mandrel or the like, said apparatus comprising an elongate supporting member, resilient means on said supporting member extending therearound and forming an annular fluid chamber, means for supplying fluid to said chamber through said supporting member, means for supporting said supporting member in a postion in alignment with the mandrel and for moving said supporting member to a position spaced from said mandrel, means on an end of said supporting member for aligning said supporting member with the mandrel, positioning means adapted to be positioned in a fixed position relative to said mandrel and engageable with said supporting means for aligning said aligning means transversely with an end of the mandrel, means for raising and lowering said supporting member, and releasable stop means for stopping said supporting member and said aligning means adapted to be positioned at the same height as the mandrel.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by second resilient means located around said supporting member and spaced from said first resilient means, said second resilient means also forming an annular fluid chamber.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 characterized by means positionable near the mandrel for engaging an end of the object opposite a free end of the mandrel for pushing the object off the mandrel onto said supporting member. 